         (let [[value mode] next-strip
               message (ShortMessage.)]
           (when (not= mode last-mode)
-            (set-touch-strip-mode controller mode))
-          (.setMessage message ShortMessage/PITCH_BEND 0 (rem value 128) (quot value 128))
-          (midi/midi-send-msg (get-in controller [:port-out :receiver]) message -1)
+            (set-touch-strip-mode controller mode)
+            (if (= mode touch-strip-mode-sysex)  ; We want the touch strip fully dark
+              (clear-all-touch-strip-leds controller)))
+          (when (not= mode touch-strip-mode-sysex)  ; We are actually displaying values
+            (.setMessage message ShortMessage/PITCH_BEND 0 (rem value 128) (quot value 128))
+            (midi/midi-send-msg (get-in controller [:port-out :receiver]) message -1))
           (reset! (:last-touch-strip controller) next-strip))
         (do
           (set-touch-strip-mode controller touch-strip-mode-default)

                          :touch-strip-bar-starts-at-bottom :touch-strip-auto-return-inactive
                          :touch-strip-auto-return-to-center))

(defn- clear-display-buffer
  "Clear the graphical display buffer in preparation for drawing an
  interface frame."

    (clear-display-buffer controller)
    (reset! (:next-text-buttons controller) {})
    (reset! (:next-top-pads controller) empty-top-pads)
    (reset! (:next-touch-strip controller) [0 touch-strip-mode-sysex])

    (let [snapshot (rhythm/metro-snapshot (get-in controller [:show :metronome]))]
      (update-effect-list controller snapshot)
